Method of marking capsules



July 26 1927.

K. K. KELLER METHOD OF MARKING CAPSULES Fild Dec. 11. 1926 Patented July' 26, 1927.

ma' rrrr K. K LLER, or MINNEAroLIs, MINNESOTA.

QFFWE;

METHOD orJvrARfiiii diseases;

Application 11, Serial l lo. 1542158 V of the physician whose prescription is therein, contained; Onte n me. one d iiiss st w mpou ded the pres rip on o th name of the manufacturenot the capsule or of the medicine therein an unique means or marking a p uith fi ures W ds, letters, or insignia; a novel method forim; pressing upon a capsule identifying data, such as the name of a physician or druggist, or manufacturer, whereby such insignia visually impressed upon such capsule with out affecting the solubility thereof or'mo ditying the medicinal eitfects tobe obtained by thecontents; an unique method ofmarlging a capsule or the like whereby the name of a physician, druggist, or manufacturer, or a trademark may be impressed thereupon or associated therewith and the purchaser of such capsules thereby will 'knowitsorigin, These, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, are obtained by a novel process for marking a capsule, bythe novel arrangement of the elements herein to be disclosed, and, by the combination ofmarking elements particularly adapted for the especial purpose hereinafterset torth.

For a better understandingof the invention, reference should Had to single sheet of drawing hereby made a part of this description, and in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective View ofa capsule using one form of the invention herein de scribed; W Figure 2 is a perspectiyeof the d suse formarking a capsule such as is shown in Figure l. v 4 Like referencech'aracters are used to'de'si'gnate similar parts inthe drawing and in the description which follows.

Only one form of the invention is disclosed. Numerous other forms could be described, but for the purpose of describing the has been deem'ecl'all thatis necessary; 1

Generally in structurepf a qonv'n tioijijal gelatine capsule for ap theearies use, tlfire are two pa ts, both transpare capsule here described comprises a body have h s a e e d nd m p, h r in b 1 sli fitl f l dfl. 1 b ig i h sccpeiippna id a ou d as body. i llf d w h p de e Sal -$05 f liquid material in the usual way; iiid t e'gcj p Slipped t-heretiyer as has been the practice blji i l p bil d 33 5 as sea e in Figu ifi l an 2 a e pla e P91 linear B t nat' re the invention, the

h b y A. hf c p u of is transparent, and such maiking will qrdinafly, how h r he h-i.v The apsule may b rle th xu ia i r Jo'r it m be tinted with pink is nequjiiu found, or withl as is also used; or with any other color Of course a transparent capsule is to be preferred, if the capsule em'pldyedjis not transparent, theiiiaiking may be dispr HD91 1 t body h re SQ tha .it i not; covered when the is slippedthere over, I n V v JVhen' a" transparent capsul'eis used", the

mikifi myseenrre full lengthof the truly cylindrical 'p'oaibn o'ffthe ody.

4 Perhaps the simplest of impressing up'qh th body or the ap sule ihdi ia shah; as is herein described is to ide a lick i for the, body and which is: a t er uri gh' ma kllns pro ess. This holder is' not altogether necessary for the pressure upon the capsule during the. marking process, isfnot snot-1g a) venl st. it if the marking die skillfullyhandled. I, In 'Figu're 2, is sho w na' die C made of hard steel such as tool steel. The die material usuallyisheated to a tempera ture at tithich i' t liqu'efies when all thecars boil possible is e t'ractedQ About ninety-.7 wo n huncl e s (a/ ,0 p r' em f carbonis next addeias the pioeess ef make ing thedieis completed l his' material has beens'el ectedafter a large number of experimer ts because of its peculiar qualities which are. con dti ciye to good resultsin marking p cl o be" die C is heated to a temperature approximating that of boiling water, or higher, and then it is brought into contact with a molten mass of colored liquid wax, or colored wax and gelatine, the proportions thereof being from one half wax to two thirds wax. Seal ing wax may be usedwithout the gelatine but in combination with gelatine, it appears to adhere more strongly than when used without this addition. Upon a colored capsule, a white wax is employed.

The next step in the process after dipping the die in the wax is to bring the die completel covered over at its lettered end with a thin ayer of the 'wax-gelatine composition into contact with the capsule suitably filled, (although filling is not necessary), or a capsule held upon a spindle or holder as above described. In most instances, the capsule to be marked may be held in the hand.

The die carries a small portion of Wax or wax compound upon the projecting material D thereof and a larger quantity in the space between the raised letters. It is held against the body A of the capsule for a short time, varying from one-fifth to two (2) seconds. A short period of contact is to be preferred when the die 0 is heated to a higher degree of temperature.

The pressure employed is sufficient to hold the die C securely against the capsule but without any destructive deformation of the capsule material. The heat of the die C and the wax carried thereby causes a slight indentation or depression upon the body of the capsule following the lines of letters D and in the indentation thus formed and which is relatively shallow, the wax carried by the letters D of the die C is deposited.

With the removal of the die C, the excess portion of wax, that is, that portion thereof intermediate the letters D of the die (J, is removed with the die C, leaving upon the capsule A an inwardly pressed portion showing the mark upon the die 0 and filled with wax of the color selected. The capsule A is then ready for use and may be filled if it is then required, or a number thereof may be prepared in advance and kept on hand forv future use.

It is contemplated that a die C as herein described may be attached to an apparatus for forming the body of capsules, and with the formation of capsules, an impression of the die 0 covered with wax may be obtained. Thus a gelatine capsule may be marked during the process of its manufacture, one additional step in its manufacture being made necessary.

Usually a color of wax contrasting with the capsule is employed as for example red wax (and gelatine) upon a colorless capsule or a white wax mixture upon a tinted capsule. The letters thus formed will be clearly visible to the eye. The different sizes of capsules may be treated with different die to. obtain'larger letters or one die may be used for all sizes.

A straight edged die rather than one with a curved end is preferred, and the impression of the die C upon the capsule A. is preferably obtained by a rotary or arcuate movement of the non-contacting end of the mold so that the impression of the die upon the capsule is of short duration but at the same time complete.

Wax and gelatine such as are impressed upon the capsule are medicinally inert. They make a harmless mixture. It produces no appreciable taste.

By the method herein described, a capsule may be marked with the producers name, a druggists name, a manufacturefis name, a trademark, the name of a medicine, or other wise. In the hands of the patient, the name of the physician, druggist, or manufacturer is noted every time a medicinal This proves an ethical way of advertising for a physician or for a druggist or for a drug manufacturer. It keeps the mark used upon the capsule ever before the patient and also before all of those who come in contact With the patient and the treatment that he is receiving.

For marking capsulated medicines with the name of the content ithas a high utility.

An unique and highly useful advertising medium is also produced, without medicinal effect upon the patient and without adding a burden either to the druggist or dispensing manufacturer employing the means herein described.

What I claim is new and desire to procure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method ofmarking a capsule with a visible insigna which includes the step of impressing upon the body of such capsule a heated die carrying a portion of wax like material, the impression of such die upon such capsule being insufiicient to fracture or deform the capsule and the heat of such die being sufiicient to cause a shallow depression in the material of such capsule.

2. A method of marking a capsule with visible indicia which consists in creating an impression in said capsule and simultaneous ly applying therein a normally solid visible material in its liquid state.

. KEITH K. KELLER.

dose is taken.- 

